We’ve reached the pinnacle of the awards season, and it’s time for the big one! The Children’s Book Council of Australia has announced its nominees for the 2013 books of the year, and the Booked Out crew represent, yo!

Congratulations to Neil Grant and Doug Macleod, whose respective books The Ink Bridge and The Shiny Guys are nominated in the Older Readers Category.

Jackie French and Morris Gleitzman have both received nods in the Younger Readers category for World War II historical novels, Pennies for Hitler and After, and are joined by Glenda Millard for The Tender Moments of Saffron Silk.

Kirsty Murray is shortlisted in the Information Books list (the Eve Pownall award) for Topsy-turvy World: How Australian Animals Puzzled Early Explorers.

In the picture book categories, meanwhile, we have Sue DeGennaro’scharming The Pros and Cons of Being a Frog, Anna Walker for Prey,Gus Gordon for the delightful Herman and Rosie, and Glenda and Jackie again with Lightning Jack and A Day to Rememberrespectively.

All of these authors absolutely deserve the recognition, and congratulations to them all. Remember, they are all available for speaking engagements, so get in touch now before everybody wants a piece of their fame!